“Set, HUT!”

The play was in motion, and Austin had one job. To make the tackle. He charged at the other player, rushing straight at him full speed ahead.

“Crack!” That was the last that Austin remembers before he was laying on the burning turf with pulsating pain coursing through his neck.

Moments later, he received the terrible news that he had broken his neck before his freshman football season had truly even begun. Hundreds of questions raced through his mind. Would he be able to run again? Play football again? However, Austin was the most concerned with his return to school. He shared, “I was pretty nervous to go to school because I knew I would be made fun of and it would be a lot harder to get around.” Austin can still remember the torment that he received from his fellow teammates and classmates.

But, after a while, that shame turned into humor and Austin found the entire situation hilarious. For Austin, this experience, “...put life in perspective for me. I am much more grateful than I was before and it just shows that you should live life to the fullest everyday.” After six months, Austin’s neck was fully healed, which meant no more brace to school and a lot more football!